The National tribune., 1887-08-25
CHICKAMAUGA.
The Confederate LOssc. and Forces Engaged.

EDITOR NATIoSAL TRIBUNE: A few days
after the battle of Chickamauga the boys OF Co.
C. llth Mich, received in exchange from the
rebel pickets a copy Of the Atlanta CoRtederdcy,
paper then printed in Atlanta, which con-
tanned commentson the battle Of Chickamauga
as follows:
We learn from a Surgeon 81 high stand
ing IN Bragrs army that our loss in the late battle
II much larger tlInn al first reported, and VIII eN-
coed la, 0o0m killed wounded and missing
VIII the % cannon, 10000 stand Of small arms aud
GOO Yankees captured compensate Tor the loss Of
2o,GO veterans who went down on that bloody
field? Nethink not, Without BrHg- now retakas
Chattanooga, RECEIVERS Ills lost ground and drives
the willy buchanan with lass vandR hordes back
across the Ohio isiNcr. thc battle of Chiokamsuga
might better never have been fought n
fe~ such victories AZ thls proves 10 be wlli rum the
COufedewcy.
Almost "A wears have passed since the event
above referred 10, yet in all these years / have
never been able 20 fnd out why this same
"wily Dutchman this hero Of C0rinth, luka
and Stone River--ihis successful General who
had not only recovered all the territory vacated
the summer before by Don Carlos Buell., but
had added thereto the stronghold of Chat
tanooga, was relieved from the command of
the Army OF the Cumberland; aud i dread
even now TO contemplate the results, had any
other man than Thomas been placed In COM
mand, Tor the feeling in the army ut thai time
was bitter indeed against the measure.
To those who know the facts the advance OF
Rosecrans's army during the Summer Of 1863
must ever he remembered as one OF the most
successful campaigns of the war. The cam
paign began at Murlrcesboro, Tenn, on the 23d
of June, 1863. aud closed with the battle in the
Valley of Chickamauga. Creek, in Georgia, on
the 18th aud 10th of September. by a flank
movement RosecFans had drawn Bragg out of
Chattanooga, and this battle was fought for the
possession Of that place Bragg's army at the
opening OF the campai gn consisted OF 10 600 IN
fantry aud artillery and $1,000 cavalry. At
Tullahoma he was reinforced by l2,000-Buck-
ncr's Corps from Knoxyile---and about the
commencement Of the battle Bongstreet arrived
from Virginia with a corps oC $4,000.
In battle which lasted two whole days,
Rosecrans with less than 10000 troops. repulsed
this immense host aud retired 10 Chattanooga
at his own time aud pleasure. We're we whipped
At Chickamauga2 By no means. After dark
at the close Of the second day, when the rebels
had been repulsed and defeated AZ every point
aud the last gun had been fred, there arose
from The valley IN front OF Us a rebel yell lin
tended ] presume, for a cheer that extended
south along Chickamanga Creek until the
sound was lost IN the distance. 1t was imme-
diately answered from Missionary Ridge, and
from the throats of 10000 Union veterans arose
the last cheer made on the bloody field OF
ChickamauCa.-JAMEs M. WmALLoN, Second
Lieutenant, 18th Mich.
-FOUR correspondent should revise his figures.
he says Bragg had 10000 at the opening Of the
campaign, and was reinforced by Buckner with
l2,00G and Longstreet with 10000 This would
make the Confederate army at Chickamauga
100000, which is nearly double what il actually
was Braggs army proper consisted of possibly
$4,000. Lonrslreet's opportunc arrival with
about $4,000 OF Lees veterans gave Bragg the
preponderance 10 about that number. The
historic valor Of the Union soldiers at Chicka-
manga does not need the magnifying Of the
hostile force.-ED. NATIONAL TRIBUNEl